Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

The dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, together or alone, appeared to fare no better than placebo in slowing loss of cartilage in osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers from the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) team report in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. Interpreting the study results is complicated, however, because participants taking placebo had a smaller loss of cartilage, or joint space width, than predicted. Loss of cartilage, the slippery material that cushions the joints, is a hallmark of osteoarthritis and its loss is typically measured as a reduction in joint space width—the distance between the ends of bones in a joint as seen on an X-ray.

“While these results are of interest, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about the utility of glucosamine or chondroitin in reducing joint space width loss, in part because the placebo group fared better than anticipated based on prior research results,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the study’s funders. “The results of the study provide interesting insights for future research.”

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The dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, together or alone, appeared to fare no better than placebo in slowing loss of cartilage in osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers from the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) team report in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. Interpreting the study results is complicated, however, because participants taking placebo had a smaller loss of cartilage, or joint space width, than predicted. Loss of cartilage, the slippery material that cushions the joints, is a hallmark of osteoarthritis and its loss is typically measured as a reduction in joint space width—the distance between the ends of bones in a joint as seen on an X-ray.

“While these results are of interest, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about the utility of glucosamine or chondroitin in reducing joint space width loss, in part because the placebo group fared better than anticipated based on prior research results,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the study’s funders. “The results of the study provide interesting insights for future research.”

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The FTC today announced a new Web site about bogus cancer cures. The site — www.ftc.gov/curious — tells consumers how to spot and report bogus claims they see online, and urges people with cancer to talk to their treatment team about any products they’d like to try. The site features a video and includes a list of resources on cancer treatments from a variety of agencies within the federal government. Information is provided in English and Spanish.

The Federal Trade Commission also announced 11 law enforcement actions challenging deceptive advertising of bogus cancer cures. The FTC charged the companies with making unsupported claims that their products cured or treated one or more types of cancer. In each case, the company is charged with violating the FTC Act, which bars deceptive claims. Some complaints allege that the companies also falsely touted clinical or scientific proof for their products.

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Clinical Trials to Target Hot Flashes, Night Sweats

Women troubled by hot flashes and night sweats during the years around menopause want safe, effective treatment options. A new research initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will establish a multisite research network to conduct clinical trials of promising treatments for the most common symptoms of the menopausal transition.

The initiative Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) is led by the National Institute on Aging in collaboration with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Office of Research on Womens Health, all parts of the NIH. The MsFLASH network will be coordinated by principal investigators Andrea Z. LaCroix, Ph.D., and Garnet Anderson, Ph.D., both of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. The network centers will collectively receive approximately $4.4 million each year of the initiative, which is projected to run for five years.

A Press Release from the National Institute on Aging

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As I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many of our stakeholders over the past 6 months, I have learned a lot. I’ve gained a greater appreciation of the complexities of studying CAM, the challenges to conducting rigorous research, and the need for setting clear priorities for the years ahead.

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As I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many of our stakeholders over the past 6 months, I have learned a lot. I’ve gained a greater appreciation of the complexities of studying CAM, the challenges to conducting rigorous research, and the need for setting clear priorities for the years ahead.

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The older population is growing rapidly, and the aging of the “baby boomers,” born between 1946 and 1964 (and who begin turning age 65 in 2011), will accelerate this growth. Healthy Aging Month was designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. Many older Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve their health and maintain wellness. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducts and supports research on many conditions associated with aging and provides information on how to be an informed consumer.

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The older population is growing rapidly, and the aging of the “baby boomers,” born between 1946 and 1964 (and who begin turning age 65 in 2011), will accelerate this growth. Healthy Aging Month was designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. Many older Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve their health and maintain wellness. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducts and supports research on many conditions associated with aging and provides information on how to be an informed consumer.

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If you are using (or thinking about using), you may have financial questions about paying for treatment. This fact sheet answers some frequently asked questions on this topic. To find out more about any topic or resource that is mentioned.

What are some questions to ask about paying for CAM treatment?

Some questions to ask a CAM practitioner or his office staff are:

• What does the first appointment cost?
• What do followup appointments cost?
• How many appointments does someone with my condition typically need?
• Are there any additional costs (such as for tests, equipment, or supplements)?

If you have a health insurance plan, some other questions are:

• Do you accept this insurance?
• What has your experience been with coverage by this insurance company for my condition?
• Do I file the claim forms, or do you take care of that?

If it would be difficult for you to pay the full fee at each visit, you can ask:

• Could you arrange a payment plan over time?
• Do you offer a sliding-scale fee? (Sliding-scale fees are determined by people’s income and ability to pay.)

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The purpose of the meeting was to articulate potential goals and directions for research on the mechanisms and efficacy of meditation practices for a variety of health concerns. Experts from a range of disciplines and with a wide range of involvement in the field of meditation research were asked to critically examine the current state of science on meditation for health, and to identify existing or potential intersections and contributions from their fields to further this area of science. This group developed a set of critical questions and approaches that could better inform future research in this area.

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